Folding viewer

ABSTRACT

A unitarily constructed folding viewer suitable for use with circular viewing discs. The structure includes a pair of major body portions joined together, having a clearance therebetween. A foldable top member, as well as side and end flaps are hinged to one another and to one of the body portions. Cooperative tabs extending from the body portion and top member are mated with slots in the side and end flaps to form the assembled viewer. The end flaps are provided with openings and when folded down are affixed to the top member by a locking means and seat around the lenses.

United States Patent Lewis 1451 Sept. 17,1974

[ FOLDING VIEWER Primar ExaminerPaul A. Sacher 751 t.AlGlkLe,WtL, y 1 men or uec WIS es Inn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter C. Kehm; Samson B.

Leavitt [73] Assignee: Gaf Corporation, New York, N.Y. 221 Filed: June 29, 1973 [571 ABSTRACT A unitarily constructed folding viewer suitable for use [211 App! 374930 with circular viewing discs. The structure includes a Related US. Application Data pair of major body portions joined together, having a 3 continuatiomimpan f sen 302,888, 1, clearance therebetween. A foldable top member, as 1972 well as side and end flaps are hinged to one another and to one of the body portions. Cooperative tabs ex- 52] US. Cl. 350/140 tending from the y portion and p member are [51] Int. Cl. G02b 27/22 mated with slots in the side and end fl p to fo m the [58] Field of Search 350/140; 40/63 A, 70 A assembled viewer- The end fl p r provi ed with openings and when folded down are affixed to the top [56] R f r Cit d member by a locking means and seat around the UNITED STATES PATENTS lenses- 3,145,253 8/1964 Patton 350/140 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I! I O e m Ii /6 [I e [I n i l a l 14 I l 7 PAIENTEUSEPI 7 1914- snm a or 2 FIG. 4

FOLDING VIEWER The present invention relates to a folding stereoptic viewer suitable for use in conjunction with manually rotatable discs of information. In particular, the present invention is directed to a continuation-in-part of my copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 302,888 filed Nov. 1, 1972 entitled Folding Viewer.

More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved stereoptic viewer. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a foldable stereoptic viewer which'when knocked down to the collapsed position forms a flat package which is suitable for carrying without increasing the bulk of the viewer.

Folding viewers of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,005,378 and 3,145,253 are known to the Applicant, In connection with these embodiments, there exist a number of drawbacks to which the instant invention has addressed itself. For an example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,378 there exists a number'of parts which when properly constructed, serve as a body for the viewer. Such parts tend to increase the bulk of the unit to the point where it sometimes becomes uncomfortable for one to carry as a portable viewing apparatus. The viewer disclosed in this particular prior art patent, consists of a series of five principal parts together with a flat face member; and are held together by a suitable hinge arrangement to form the finished viewer. After continuous use, this viewer presents a problem of possible failure at the hinge portion. In addition, the fact that a number of individual parts have to be joined and assembled together to form the finished product does necessitate a degree of mechanical skill. The cost of preparing the necessary dies, molds, etc. for this unit is quite prohibitive when compared to the present invention as will be described in more detail herein below.

Insofar as the U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,253 is concerned, this particular viewer is somewhat similar to that discussed above in U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,378 with the exception that there exists a hinge arrangement employing a rubber band or other elastic material. This elastic serves to act as the principal hinge arrangement by which the assembled unit opens upon itself and forms into the necessary configuration for viewing. Again, such a structure is somewhat compact, but certainly not as small as one would like for purposes of continuous carrying after increased use; furthermore, the hinge as well as the separate parts which are joined together can fail at the hinge, especially after long and continued folding and unfolding. In addition, the size due of the unit in this arrangement is larger than what is envisioned by Applicants present design and is due to a rigid bracing member disposed in the interior of the viewing chamber.

By way of additional background, the present invention represents and possesses a number of advantages over such prior art, especially insofar as commercialization is concerned. For an example, the instant invention is directed to a new and novel viewer that is of unitary construction and includes integral hinges which can be either molded or coined in a secondary operation.

One of the most important attributes of a collapsible or foldable viewer is the ability to portably carry such viewer from place to place without undue concern for bulk or excessive amount of manipulation in order to collapse and subsequently re-open the viewer. Accordingly, the present invention is an improvement over may co-pending application, U.S. Ser. No. 302,888 directed to stereoptic viewers and entitled Folding Viewer.

The instant invention has as its purpose the economic manufacture of a stereoptic viewer which is foldable and easily carried from place to place. In my previous design, disclosed in my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 302,888, the mode of collapsing and fastening the respective side peices and eye lens portion of the viewer employed a fastening means or a hook-shaped member disposed on the major portion of the body of the viewer. By means of this arrangement it was possible to engage the end portions of the side pieces of the viewer which laid above the top portion of the viewer and thus once collapsed in a zig-zag fashion, the viewer portions were retained by this fastening member. The drawback with this type of an arrangement resides in the fact that the cost for molding such specialized hook-shaped fastening means in many respects outweighs the use of less complex procedure for maintaining the viewer in the folded position. Furthermore, after super-imposing the various elements on top of one another and there after holding same in place by hooktype fastening means tended to make the overall collapsed viewer difficult to carry without unduly adding to the bulk.

The other factor associated with my present improvement resides in the fact that the number of opposite folds on the various hinge members for collapsing such viewer as far less in number than with my previous embodiment. As a result, there is a tendency to increase the overall life of the viewer by minimizing the number of flexes, especially that caused by bends opposite to the points of weakening defined by the hinge members.

Lastly, by a simple means, it is possible to maintain the various elements in the collapsed position similar to my previous-application, by a suitable band, such as a rubber band, placed by the user around the viewer in the collapsed position. This obviously is optional with the user and one would have to consider the resultant bulk as the drawback.

The instant invention contemplates a structure of a two piece construction making use of essentially flat sheets of material which when joined together, offers a rigid and yet flexible viewer suitable for folding into a compact unit.

In accordance with the principal features of the invention, there is provided a pair of discs or circular shaped body portions, adaptable for accepting the viewing reels, through which such discs can be rotated from scene to scene as they are viewed via stereoptic lenses through viewing windows. The structure provides points of weakening at the end flap portions of the viewer to enable such flaps to be bent and engaged with tabs extending from the circular body portion and thus offer rigidity, as well as to establish a proper focal length from the lens to the viewing screen. The tabs are adapted to be engaged by slots that are provided in the flap portions, with engagement in the form of a mortise and tenon arrangement. This provides for a secure construction and unitary structure. The uniqueness of the present invention and its ability to fold down into a thin, compact unit, by having the side flaps nestle and seat into the top portion. The present design contemplates utilizing sufficient points of weakening along a transverse, extending from the upper portion of the central body member up to and including the points of contact with the end flap. By such points of weakening, it is possible to fold the viewer flat as the side flaps are retained by the top. The strength of the hinge is obviously a function of joint design, as well as choice of materials. The choice of materials in order to achieve this have included, for an example: polyethylene or polypropylene. In addition, a series of ribs are provided as surfaces rising above the vertical in the form of semicircular surfaces, which are adapted to engage with circular openings in a manner, so as to form a circular structure for the acceptance of the viewing disc. This design feature contemplates having the body portions separated by studs to provide sufficient clearance space enabling insertion and withdrawal of the viewing disc as required. Two viewing areas located along a line of travel in the horizontal direction are such, that when the end flaps are folded over and are snapped into place, the lenses form a proper and sufficient focal length to enable viewing without any difficulty. One rear face of the viewing main body portion is provided with a beveled spindle adapted to engage a hole in the viewing disc and thereby minimize any slippage or deviation from the viewing windows as such disc is manually rotated by the movement of a forefinger over the periphery of the disc in a given direction from one scene to the next.

The principal feature of the invention is directed to a foldable stereoptic viewer provided with a plurality of interconnecting elements including: first and second relatively circular body portions joined to one another; end flap means foldably connected to a lens plate means; a pair of lenses embedded in said lens plate means at predetermined points; top plate means disposed between said lens plate means and said first body portion, adapted to fold at hinge means therebetween; tab means extending at the end portions of said top plate means and said first body portion, disposed to engage cooperatively fitting slot means, said end flap means are folded along said hinge means; a pair of viewing windows disposed in spaced apart relationship on said first body portion being a predetermined distance with respect to said lens plate, to thereby establish a viewing focal length with respect to said lenses; clearance means intermediate said first and second body portions to form a clearance therebetween permitting insertion and withdrawal of viewing material; spindle means disposed within said clearance to fix the position of said viewing material with respect to said viewing windows; and retaining means disposed on said lens plate means engaging and affixing said end flap means in a folded-down position.

Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to overcome the defects of the prior art.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for an improved foldable stereoptic viewer which when in the fold down position is free of excessive bulk.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for a stereoptic viewer being manufactured economically and at low cost without the need for expensive and intricate molding.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for a collapsible, foldable viewer which can be folded down and held in place by external means such as a rubber band wrapped about the outer area of the viewer.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide for a hand viewer which is of unitary construction and compact in size and has a minimum number of working parts.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding viewer which is adaptable for use with a disc of information and is capable of being folded and unfolded on numerous times without failure at the point of hinge or other points of contact.

The above advantages and objects of the present invention will become more obvious with reference to the accompanying specification and the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the invention before folding, showing the lens in place.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in the viewing position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention in the folded position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along 66 in FIG. 5.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the present invention in cludes viewing lenses 1 which are retained and positioned in a lens plate 2, such as by positioning the lenses 1 into a pair of seats 3, which are provided integral with the lens plate 2, and are raised above the surface of the place 2. The main body of the viewer is assembled by joining the rear plate 4 with front plate 6 along studs 5 so that it aligns itself behind a front plate 6, which front plate is basically of a similar configuration to that of 4. The studs 5 provide a means by which the necessary clearance between the front and rear plate is established, so as to permit a viewing disc to be withdrawn. It is essential that the design of the viewer incorporate sufficient clearance to assure ease of rotation of the disc, as well as its insertion and removal when required.

A pair of end flaps 11 are folded vertically along hinge 13 and are in proximity to the lens plate 2. The lens plate 2 is folded vertically along hinge 12 which is a longitudinal hinge extending across the lower portion of the top plate 14. The top plate 14 is foled vertically along hinges 15 which are disposed on either side of the front plate 6. The entire structure is held in this position by suitable sliding tabs 16, disposed on either side of the front plate 6 and tabs 17 at the side of top plate 14. The sliding tabs on top plate 14 are adapted to be inserted through slot 18 in the end flap 11 and by sliding tabs 16 on front plate 6 through slots 19 in the end flap (see FIG. 4). This means of forming the integral structure of the viewer, provides a very simple and positive approach to viewer assembly, as discussed herein before. The prior art arrangements necessitate the use of a multitude of elements for assembling a compatible viewing structure. The use of tabs and slots in conjunction with integral hinges provides for a sure and positive fit of the various parts.

The end flaps l1 and the lens plate 2 are joined and held in place by foldable body or top plate 14 which is then bent over to form the canopy or the viewing area free from the glare of light which is not necessary for required viewing. A pair of recesses 21 one each in the end flap 11 are provided to allow the end flaps to fold down and be retained by studs while such flaps seat around the lens 1 via holes 22. This is best seen in FIG. 5.

Then the viewer is to be disassembled or knocked down, the slots 18 and 19 are unsnapped from tabs 16 and 17. The rear plate 4, however, is not unsnapped from front plate 6. In this connection, the end flaps 11 are folded over in a manner to permit them to engage studs 20 which permits the viewer to be collapsed and held in the folded position (see FIG. 6).

For actual viewing, the reel is inserted into the clearance that has been provided as a result of the studs 5 on spindle 8 on rib 10 on plate 4. The reel sits on the spindle provided with a bevel sufficient to allow the reel to be more easily inserted into the viewer. For purposes of viewing, once having the reel inserted and on the spindle, the operator merely rotates the reel about the periphery from scene to scene and completes his viewing after 360 of rotation.

In this connection, details for use of these reels with a viewer of this type are more fully and completely explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,253 which has been discussed above.

It will be understood that certain changes may be made in construction or arrangement-of the method and apparatus which is disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable stereoptic viewer provided with a plurality of interconnecting elements including: front and rear relatively circular plate portions joined to one another; lens plate means; a pair of end flap means; one of said pair of end flap means foldably connected to each side of said lens plate means by hinge means; a pair of viewing lenses embedded in said lens plate means at predetermined points; top plate means disposed between said lens plate means and said front plate portion; hinge means foldably interconnecting said top plate means to said lens plate means and to said front plate means; tab means extending at the end portions of said top plate means and said'front plate portion disposed to engage cooperatively fitting slot means in a respective one of said pair of end flap means as said end flap means are folded along said hinge means; a pair of viewing windows disposed in spaced apart relationship on said front plate portion being a predetermined distance with respect to said lens plate and in line with a respective one of said viewing lenses, to thereby establish a viewing focal length with respect to said lenses; clearance means intermediate said front and rear plate portions to form a clearance therebetween permitting insertion and withdrawal of viewing material; spindle means disposed within said clearance to fix the position of said viewing material with respect to said viewing windows; and retaining means disposed on said lens plate means permitting engaging and affixing said end flap means in a folded-down position.

2. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1, including: engageable abutment and hole means in said lens plate means and said end plate means respectively for positively retaining said end plate means, when said viewer is to be folded down.

3. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: cut out areas are each provided in the said respective end flap means for seating around said lenses as said end flap means are folded upon said top plate means.

4. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of said lenses being disposed in said lens plate means and provided with a raised circular surface surrounding each of said lenses for receiving said out out areas in said end flap means.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION" Patent No. 3 ,836 ,228 Dated September 17 .1974

Inventor(s) ALAN GLUECK LEWIS rror appears in the above-identified patent It is certified that e y corrected as shown below:

and that saidzLetters Patentare hereb I On the title page:

line [73] after "As sign'eez't", change "Gaf" to --GAF--.

' Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974. I

, (SEAL).

Attest:

" McCOY QM. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL 1mm Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UScOMM-DC 603764 69 u s. eovzmmzu'r PRINTING OFFICE: "n o-au-su.

FoRM po-ioso uo-ss') 

1. A foldable stereoptic viewer provided with a plurality of interconnecting elements including: front and rear relatively circular plate portions joined to one another; lens plate means; a pair of end flap means; one of said pair of end flap means foldably connected to each side of said lens plate means by hinge means; a pair of viewing lenses embedded in said lens plate means at predetermined points; top plate means disposed between said lens plate means and said front plate portion; hinge means foldably interconnecting said top plate means to said lens plate means and to said front plate means; tab means extending at the end portions of said top plate means and said front plate portion disposed to engage cooperatively fitting slot means in a respective one of said pair of end flap means as said end flap means are folded along said hinge means; a pair of viewing windows disposed in spaced apart relationship on said front plate portion being a predetermined distance with respect to said lens plate and in line with a respective one of said viewing lenses, to thereby establish a viewing focal length with respect to said lenses; clearance means intermediate said front and rear plate portions to form a clearance therebetween permitting insertion and withdrawal of viewing material; spindle means disposed within said clearance to fix the position of said viewing material with respect to said viewing windows; and retaining means disposed on said lens plate means permitting engaging and affixing said end flap means in a folded-down position.
 2. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1, including: engageable abutment and hole means in said lens plate means and said end plate means respectively for positively retaining said end plate means, when said viewer is to be folded down.
 3. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: cut out areas are each provided in the said respective end flap means for seating around said lenses as said end flap means are folded upon said top plate means.
 4. A foldable stereoptic viewer as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of said lenses being disposed in said lens plate means and provided with a raised circular surface surrounding each of said lenses for receiving said cut out areas in said end flap means. 